Quick answer: The WF650 is an intermediate wire drawing machine, a core item in a solar ribbon production line. It draws copper from an input diameter around 2.6 mm down to 1.2 mm, at line speeds up to about 1,800 m/min on a 380 V supply, handling spools around 10 kg with drawing reductions near 20% and 15.5%. PV ribbon is drawn from copper rod down to a final flat strip, and the intermediate stage is where diameter consistency is established. A variation in intermediate diameter does not disappear downstream: it shows up as a variation in the finished ribbon's cross-section, which becomes a variation in the resistance of every joint made with that ribbon. Drawing in stages rather than in one pass is what keeps that variation inside tolerance.
PV Module Manufacturing · by Jerry, Ooitech
Product Introduction
The intermediate wire drawing machine is a core piece of equipment in the solar ribbon (PV ribbon) production line, specifically engineered to draw copper wire from larger diameters down to the fine gauges required for downstream tinning and ribbon coating processes. Built around a rigid cast-iron one-piece frame with annealing and sandblasting treatment, this four-axis horizontal drawing machine delivers stable, high-speed performance for solar tabbing wire and bus bar wire manufacturing.
The machine accepts an inlet wire diameter of φ3.2 to φ2.6 mm and outputs finished wire from φ0.6 to φ1.2 mm at speeds reaching 1800 m/min. With 17 dies, full-immersion lubrication, and a 75 HP inverter-driven main motor, the line offers excellent surface quality, low breakage rates, and consistent dimensional tolerance — all critical for producing solar PV ribbon used in crystalline silicon module assembly.
Paired with the WF650 plum-blossom spool take-up system, the line supports continuous production with automatic counting, alarm signaling, and easy spool changeover, making it a reliable workhorse for solar ribbon manufacturers supplying tabber stringer and bussing lines.
Technical Specifications
| Item | Specification |
|---|
| Application | Copper wire drawing for solar ribbon |
| Type | Four-axis horizontal |
| Inlet wire diameter | φ3.2 – φ2.6 mm |
| Outlet wire diameter | φ0.6 – φ1.2 mm |
| Max line speed | 1800 m/min |
| Number of dies | 17 pcs |
| Die size | φ30 × 15T mm or φ25 × 10T mm |
| Reduction rate (Die 1–16) | 20% |
| Reduction rate (Die 17) | 15.5% |
| Lubrication | Full immersion |
| Lubricant flow | 150 L/min |
| Main motor | 75 HP induction motor, inverter driven, 380V 60Hz |
| Take-up motor | 20 HP induction motor |
| Traverse motor | 90W with limit switch |
| Safety door | Top-flip type |
| Net weight | 5200 kg |
| Gross weight | 6000 kg |
WF650 Plum-Blossom Spool Take-up Parameters
| Item | Specification |
|---|
| Model | WF650 |
| Take-up wire range | 1.0 – 1.6 mm |
| Mechanical speed | Max 1200 m/min |
| Take-up motor power | AC 11 kW |
| Transport motor power | 750 W |
| Spool clamp | None, magnetic-type direct drive |
| Spool dimensions | Inner φ480 × Outer φ860 × Height 1810 mm |
| Spool capacity | Approx. 800 kg |
| Coiling drum diameter | 650 mm |
| Braking | Pneumatic-hydraulic brake |
| Equipment net weight | Approx. 3000 kg |
Technical Advantages
Rigid cast-iron frame: One-piece casting with annealing and sandblasting treatment ensures vibration-free operation at high speed.
Tungsten carbide drawing wheels: Four-layer integrated drawing wheels, with four interchangeable wheels plus one independent final wheel, surface sprayed with tungsten carbide for long service life.
High-speed precision: 1800 m/min maximum line speed driven by 75 HP inverter-controlled induction motor for smooth ramp-up and stable running.
Full immersion lubrication: 150 L/min lubricant flow with spray cooling above dies and drawing wheels ensures excellent surface finish and reduces wire breakage.
Pneumatic dancer arm tension control: Adjustable tension from 1–10 kg with precision 2 KΩ resistor for position feedback and microswitch break detection.
WF650 magnetic spool take-up: Plum-blossom coiling design with 6 independently air-cylinder-adjustable pressure rollers, hydraulic disc brake, and non-stop spool change function for continuous production.
Dual-axis straightening unit: Horizontal and vertical straightening sections with 5 rollers each delivering excellent wire straightness before coiling.
Independent operation panel: Push-button control with counter reset, speed VR adjustment, illuminated ON/OFF buttons, and power/fault indicators.
Safety design: Top-flip safety door, emergency stop, and break-line detection that triggers instant hydraulic braking.
Product Applications
The intermediate wire drawing machine is a key upstream station in solar PV ribbon production lines. Typical applications include:
Solar tabbing wire production: Drawing copper wire down to fine gauges suitable for tin-lead or tin-bismuth coating, used to interconnect solar cells in PV modules.
Solar bus bar wire production: Producing flat or round copper wire used as bus bar conductors for crystalline silicon solar panels.
PV ribbon for tabber stringer machines: Feeding downstream tinning lines that supply ribbon for automatic tabber stringer and bussing equipment in solar module assembly.
Compatible cell technologies: Ribbon produced supports module manufacturing for G1, M6, M10, M12, MBB, PERC, TOPCon, IBC, ABC, HPBC, and shingled cell technologies.
Continuous production lines: Integrated with WF650 spool take-up for high-volume, non-stop ribbon wire output.
Purchase and Service
Warranty coverage from the date of acceptance:
Mechanical parts: 1 year
Electrical parts: 1 year
Long-term spare parts supply and technical support are guaranteed throughout the equipment lifecycle. Standard accessories include one final drawing wheel timing belt, one wire separator wheel, and two traverse guide rollers. Supporting documents provided include maintenance manual and diagrams, foundation drawing, electrical schematics, and parts catalog.
Optional services available on request: factory pre-shipment trial run (customer to supply dies, copper wire, drums, drawing oil), painting in customer-specified color, installation, and packaging. Dies, jointing machine, drums, gear oil, and lubricating oil are not included in the standard quotation.
Contact our sales team for a tailored quotation for your solar ribbon production line.
